VDOT confirms certain campaign signs are illegal

HENRICO COUNTY, VA (WTVR) — A viewer emailed CBS 6 saying that campaign signs near an overpass above 288 in Henrico were illegal.

“If they don’t have to abide by the laws they enact why should we,” Charles Grove, an undecided voter, asked CBS 6 reporter Joe St. George

Turns out Grove was right. Dawn Eischen, with the Virginia Department of Transportation confirmed to CBS 6 that the signs endorsing Cuccinelli, Jackson and Obenshain are most likely a violation of section 33.1-373 of the code of Virginia which prohibit signs within highway limits.

The code states that candidates could be fined $100 dollars regardless of whether or not they put them up themselves or not.

“The number one reason to not put signs in the state right of way is for safety,” Eischen said.

Eischen said VDOT sent letters to each campaign regarding the law back in August. But that’s not the only ordinance voters need to know.

Depending on where you live, oversize campaign signs can be against that county’s or city’s code. In Henrico, signs larger than three square feet on private property need a permit.

In Chesterfield, signs larger than eight square feet on private property need a permit too and no sign can be larger than 32 square feet.

In Richmond, no such ordinance for over-sized campaign signs on private property exist.

“Campaign signs are like any other signs. If they are used appropriately they can be a benefit if they are abused they can be an eyesore,” Kirk Tucker with Chesterfield’s Planning Department said.